Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-11
TEXAS TALES.
Random "reminiscences Told by an
Old conference.-the Men
Of Early Days.
stirring Events on the Border-Sam
sHouston's Grit-Santa Ana
ard tho Tory.

under g tree in the shadow CT which the
hero of San Jacinto often sat in the days
of which we read to-day and call history.
Over there stood the house, but it is gone
now. A few bricks mark where stood the
chimney, and few half-rotten planks lie
scattered about, and that is all that is left
of the first home General Houston had in
Texas Galveston bay is spread out be-
fore me, and the lazy south wind curls
the water into shallow waves and drives
them slowly against the shore, where,
with what sounds like sigh, they break
and die. Everywhere in the bay, like
white winged birds, small craft are wing
ing their way to and from Galveston,
ABOUT twenty miles distant from the
point. There, steamer is coming
through Morgan's Cut, at the mouth of
the San JaCinto, from Houston. There Is
but enough of The scenery.
In my hand hold letter under date
of July 2, 1868. 1t begins "My Dear :"
will not repeat the whole letter, but
will quote passage here and there. 81
send my nephew, Sam -, down on the
bayou. l know he will be de-
lighted with thousand of your frontier
stories. Your amusing anecdotes
will be new to him" And the letter
closes with, "Truly, thy friend" 1t is
signed, "Sam Houston"
Now, it has been my good fortune to
meet tho genial old captain whom
Houston in his letter calls "friend,"
and whom he recommended for a
thousand frontier stories and amusing
anecdotes. The old Captain came to
Texas in the early 3O's, and was on
familiar terms with all the prominent
men of that and later periods; particu
larry was be the friend of General
Houston. And, believe me, it is like
sitting down TO royal feast to sit and
listen to the old pioneer telling of the
grand old times, the tale sparkling with
rich humor and spTinkled with Imaginable
ane CdOte.
HOW SAM HOUSTON MET A CHALLENGE.
General Houston, as the world knows,
says the Captain, was born a great leader
of men. He was honest and earnest in
his convictions, and ever ready to defend
his every word or act on the rOsrum or
in the field. He was brave, for he felt
ever sure he was right, and with him
right was might. AS an Illustration:
After he was depOsed from the governor
ship of Texas, and had retired to his
home at Cedar Point, word came to him
from Galveston that his opponents and
defamers threatened if he ever dared to
show his face in that city and attempted
to defend his views they would certainly
mob him. The challenge found UOuS on
ready for action. H. went in his boat to
Morgqn's Point, there to take the steamer
for Galveston. The captain of the steamer
refused to take Houston on board, know
ing we'll the feeling against him in the
city.
"For," said the Captain to Houston,
"if they find out, General, that you are
on board my vessel, they will set her on
fire."
Captain Sterret," replied Houston,
"y0ur boat is public conveyance, and
as such l will make use of it, paying my
fare at the lawful rate"
Houston went to Galveston. Arrived
at the wharf there was a large crowd of
people assembled, for word, somehow,
had got out that the Ex-Governor was on
the steamer. Houston requested Captain
Sterret to let HIM have a negro boy to
carry his satChel to the hotel. The re-
quest was granted. Houston fastened a
large tag with his name in large letters
on it to the satChel and gave the satChel
to the boy, telling him ito follow. They
stepped on the wharf, and Houston, with
8 smile on his face, walked to where the
crowd stood packed like a solid wall TO
bar his way. He never hesitated. As he
drew near, the crowd parted as did the
waters of the Red Sea and Houston walk
ed through, nodding Familiarity to the
right and the left, and passed on to the
hotel. Here his friends tried TO dis
suade him from making pubic
speech, but Houston said he had
come down to speak and speak
he would. He ordered cards printed i'm
mediately and sent them out all over the
city; "and," he said, "inVite all, but sp2-
cially the ladies'"
At the appointed hour a large crowd
had gathered in front of old fremont,
and the fairest and foremost ladies of the
city were seated in the balcony, waiting
for the illuStriOus speaker to make his
He came presently; and it
did ones heart good to see how, with the
grace of the cavalier that he WAS, he
saluted his lady friends with kiss. 1t
was fond, fatherly salutatiOn; pure as
8 benediCtiOn from reverent heart.
Houston began to speak. A Jew Kisses
were heard, but they came from the outer
edge of the crowd. The Kisses were soon
drowned, however, by loud applause, and
at the close Of the speech the air was set
a ringing by lusty hurrahs for the hero of
San JacintO.
SANTA ANA AND THE TORY.
There are few people who can realize
what obstacles Houston had TO contend
with in that unequal strife with Mexico.
Arrayed against him was Santa Ana and
the hosts of Mexico. The government of
Texas too, was not slow to find fault,
and WAS not at all times in the warmest
accord with him. Besides, there were the
to the Mexican cause
living in the country, and these, though
despised by all, were often more to be
feared than an open foe. OF one of these
Tories the following anecdote is told:
Santa Ana and her army had camped on
the west side of the San JaCinto river
few days before the great battle was
fought. One of the Tories went to the
camp of the Mexicans, bringing with him
SIS a present to Santa Ana five pounds of
fresh butter. But the great Mexican was
and fearing that the butter
was poisoned, refused to accept it.